Friday, 16 December 2016

Even the grinchiest of grinches can no longer ignore the fact that Christmas will soon be here with only just over a week to go!

A lot of people will still have some gifts to buy so if you're struggling for ideas why not book a quick getaway to Brighton & Hove to get the Christmas shopping all wrapped up? If you have already bought all your gifts then why not come down and get a reward for yourself? 😉 The city is truly a shopper's paradise with hundreds of independent traders as well as the big name brands.

With so many shops to explore it can be difficult to know where to start so to give you a hand every day up to Chrismtas Eve we will share a different gift idea on Twitter and Instagram. To see the 4 ideas we've shared so far search #12DaysofShopping and make sure you are following @Love_Brighton on Twitter and @visit.brighton on instagram.

Monday, 12 December 2016

Today we welcome another guest poster, travel writer Rohit Agarwal picks his 5 favourite things you can only see in Brighton & Hove....

One of England’s most vibrant cities perched upon the seaside is Brighton, which is a popular tourist destination when it comes to weekend getaways. Shopping, festivals, nightlife, regal architecture, beaches and piers with arcades and amusement activities have all collectively made Brighton quite the tourist attraction in England. It being an hour away from London by train also helps if you’re thinking of a single day trip, which is usually what people choose to go by. With Brighton’s charming sights to see, here are some things that can only be thoroughly enjoyed in Brighton.

1. North Laine Graffiti

Brighton prides itself on its incredible art that it inherits from the classical era where art was highly prevalent. It would only be natural for Brighton to have some contemporary street art that is so brilliant that you’d end up spending hours admiring the intricate work that street artists have created on the walls of North Laine. Along with North Laine being the most popular spot of Brighton what with its markets, restaurants and cafes, gift shops, hotels, and vintage stores and exhibits, the street art and graffiti blends into the appealing factors of the city. The most talented of artists and painters have designed spectacular art on the walls of North Laine, and don’t be surprised if you find an artist or two high up on a ladder spray painting their time away. It’ll be an unforgettable sight to see in Brighton, which is why North Laine is such a popular part of the seaside city.

2. Choccywoccydoodah

What’s not to like when there’s a perfect blend of art and chocolate? This amazing chocolate dedicated place in Brighton goes by calling itself a ‘chocolaterie’, which brings together some of the best artists creating unusual chocolate combos and delicacies that one just can’t forget easily. They not only have expert artists and bakers working on their famous wedding cakes, chocolate toys, chocolate sculptures, gifts, pets and almost everything under the sun. You ask for it and Choccywoccydoodah will have their team working on providing you with the best chocolate experience you will ever have in your life. This is Brighton’s most popular and interesting place among the other equally amazing things one can do. But since it’s chocolate, there’s really nothing else a chocolate lover would rather do than head over to Choccywoccydoodah for an indulgent time with chocolate.

3. Brighton Dome Events

Flaming Lips Concert at Brighton Dome: Credit - Victor Frankowski

Whether it is classical arts, indulgence of heritage and history, the Brighton festival of arts, or splendid performances including those of theatre, dance, music, literature, comedy, film, and visual arts among many others, Brighton Dome has everything for everyone. Events take place every month with a lot of interesting opportunities for tourists to enjoy, where one can experience creations of traditional and classic artists but also contemporary dancers, musicians, theatre performers and the likes. There are endless things to experience at Brighton Dome, which is why it’s such an unavoidable place in the city that every tourist visits at least once.

4. Annual Brighton Marathon

You can either participate or just watch the annual Brighton Marathon which is held every year in April during the month’s first weekend. Over 150,000 onlookers are present during the marathon that goes across the seafront, making it one of the most amazing weekends a visitor spends in Brighton. If you’re a participant, you get to run across the smoothest and fastest marathon course with some of the best sights of Brighton at your fingertips. The route consists of stops like the North Laine, the Pier, the Royal Pavilion, Kemp Town etc. which is quite exciting to witness during the annual marathon.

5. The Royal Pavilion

This uniquely built home of Prince George, the Prince of Wales, between the 1700s to the 1800s, the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture in the Royal Pavilion is an unusual sight in Brighton. The rooms inside the royal home depict the different eras of the British lifestyle, and the outer portion of the Royal Pavilion bears a striking resemblance to the Taj Mahal in India. The Royal Pavilion was built in the Regency period of the British era represents the awfully luxurious lifestyle that the British royal families enjoyed during their time, and with the rooms displaying the very crux of British standard of living, it’s certainly an interesting sight to visit in Brighton. The Royal Pavilion is no longer used as a residence, and is now open to the public as a museum.

There is so much more a tourist can do while at Brighton, what with its endless opportunities of enjoyment during a weekend getaway, but if you’ve got the time, hit the above places and you’ll have yourself some great pictures!

Author Bio:

As an avid traveller, Rohit’s experiences have been recorded on www.transindiatravels.com to share with like-minded travellers and enthusiastic tourists.

Wednesday, 7 December 2016

The Dark Star Brewing Co. has opened its latest pub, The Lockhart Tavern, in Haywards Heath, West Sussex.

Now the Lockhart, on The Broadway, Haywards Heath has undergone extensive refurbishment overseen by designer, Adrian Fillary who has transformed it into a vibrant and cool venue offering a huge range of local and regional beers, ales and an extensive wine list.

Commenting, Dark Star Director, James Cuthbertson, said: “It’s taken longer than we’d originally envisaged to get this site together, but I think the result is stunning. It was clear from when we started looking at the site that we needed to extend the building as well as completely rip-out and refurbish the original shell.”

Adding: “I think we’ve created something pretty special. We have six cask beers, ten keg beers, a wide range of spirits and an amazing wines list. Our food offer is best described as ‘pub classics’, a range of from fish and chips through to a lamb curry, all made fresh on site out of our open kitchen”.

The VisitBrighton team and friends came down to try some of the brewery’s beers and also some excellent wines. A favourite was definitely the Dark Star Espresso beer made with fresh Arabica coffee from Brighton’s Red Roaster, a zingy and warming combination all at the same time!

There is also a fantastic food menu from delicious bar snacks like welsh rarebit and sausage roles; small plates such as crab toast and jerk chicken wings and large plates including rib-eye steak, burgers and of course Sunday roast. All dishes use fresh, local ingredients, are made on site and cooked to order.

Whilst all of the Dark Star pubs are very different, there are two common threads which hold them together: the love of great beer from the great breweries we’re lucky enough to have in this country, and the provision of a place for people to get together and share life experiences.

Monday, 5 December 2016

Today we hand over to antoher guest poster. Anne-Marie will give us an insight into the special festive edition of MADE BRIGHTON....

We are thrilled to be organising a one day, table top, craft and design fair. MADE BRIGHTON at St Bartholomew’s Church will take place on 10th December. We have selected sixty-five contemporary designer / makers selling their handmade work direct to you.

We’ve got ceramics, jewellery, homewares, glass, woodwork, textiles, screen-prints and more, with a full range of prices to ensure there is something for everyone. For stocking fillers, The Black Rabbit will be bringing her knitted media mittens, Forge Creative will have a huge selection of their hand turned wooden trees and Louise Loder will be bringing her mix and match silver and black stud earrings.

For Christmas gifts, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Warm and cosy knitwear by Prilly Lewis, snug and toasty felt slippers by Onstail and knitted scarves and accessories by Jo Cranston. If you’re looking for jewellery, we got a fantastic selection of unique pieces, plus beautiful functional ceramics as well as statement porcelain pieces for the home (keep an eye out for wallflowerlondon).

If you’re stuck for a gift for him, take a look at the really stunning handmade carbon steel kitchen knives by Two Stick Forge, the fabulous hand turned lamps by Sarah Lock and leather goods by Paula Kirkwood and Wolfram Lohr.

St Bartholomew’s Church on Ann Street is just a 5-minute walk from Brighton Station. The church is a stunning late Victorian Byzantine inspired building, known to some as the Noah’s Ark Church, because of the local legend that it was built to the same dimensions as the Ark. St Bartholomew’s is an awe-inspiring space; the tallest parish church in Europe.

The show is open from 10.30am – 6pm. Entry price £4.50.

Just opposite the church at 51 Providence Place, our new shop Atelier 51 will be open selling crafts and design from an array of best quality makers.

Wednesday, 30 November 2016

Brighton Food Tours has launched a special festive edition of their walking tour and we were invited along to try it out.

I knew vaguely what this tour would be about because, well, the clue is in the name! But I didn't know exactly what to expect or how it would work. I'm not going to mention all the places we visited as I think some mystery is a good thing but I will say that I think this tour would suit practically anyone. If you're a resident or regular visitor to Brighton then this is a new way to see the city and will almost certainly introduce you to some great new businesses - even if you think you already know them all! If you are new to the city then you do still get an introduction to Brighton & this gives a real flavour of what makes this such a special place to visit as all the places included are independently run and each has a story to tell.

The tour includes tastings and samples at all of the venues and there are exclusive discounts if you buy anything during the tour. But don't worry this isn't a hard sell and there is no pressure to buy although once you've had a taste you almost certainly will! This tour is great for Christmas shopping although I have to confess everything I ended up buying was consumed by me but hey I deserve a treat too ;)

Mmmm chocolate

As a chocoholic a definite highlight for me was Rainbow Organic Chocolates in The Open Market. The smell as soon as we walked in was absolutely delicious and we were then served a traditional Parisian hot chocolate. This was proper thick, gloopy chocolate with a healthy dollop of cream on top the perfect way to warm up on a crisp, winter's day. As a geek I was delighted to see the Star Wars themed chocolates alongside the other artistic creations. This is a little haven for chocolate fans as there are bars, buttons and boxes of chocolate as well as cakes and other tasty treats. I was also very pleasantly surprised by the prices given the fact that these are all hand-crafted delights.

I've already said I won't mention all the places we visited, partly because there were a lot and so this would turn into a long post but mainly because I want you to do the tour and discover them for yourself. However I will just give a special mention to Bluebird Tea Company, as you have to love a place that immediately hands you a hot toddy as you walk through the door! We had their Mulled Cider tea blend which was delicious. I am normally a coffee-drinker but I was tempted to switch sides after seeing the vast array of teas on offer! As a tea novice I would never have imagined it would be possible to create not only such a huge mixture of blends but also the spin-off products! There are tea crackers & baubles as well teapots, brewers and gadgets but the ones that caught my eye was the cocktail kits. There's a variety of flavours including the MojiTEA a peppermint and lime green tea which you mix with rum then leave for 48 hours for a perfectly blended cocktail.

Just some of the treats you can see & try during the tour.

The joy of visiting these places as part of the tour is not only getting to discover places you may have missed but also getting to meet the owners and hearing the fabulous stories of how they got their businesses going. From the family-run spice shop with stores in Germany, London & Brighton to the Nordic coffee shop and the sausage-roll makers who had a name before they had a product - in fairness Pig 'n' Mix is genius! They are all so enthusiastic and passionate about what they do and Angela our tour guide was every bit as passionate about getting more people to visit these wonderful places.

As you should have guessed by now we had a great time on the tour and would definitely recommend it. There are 9 festive editions throughout December and you can also buy gift vouchers for the festive or the original V.I.B (Very Independent Brighton) tours from their website.

Monday, 28 November 2016

Dum Dum
Doughnuts are the world’s first artisan baked doughnut brand and the
fastest growing doughnut brand in the UK. Dum Dum Doughnuts look amazing, taste
great and are lots of fun! They have now opened their Brighton store at No.10 Brighton Square!

The VisitBrighton team is delighted to be working with Dum Dum Doughnuts, check out their page below

The high quality, natural artisan
doughnuts are uniquely baked fresh every day (not fried). Dum Dums use only
natural ingredients and are significantly lower in fat, half the fat in some
instances, than competitor brands making an indulgent treat even tastier,
without the junk.

Dum Dum flavours include Crême Brûlée, Strawberry
& Cream, Banoffee, Almond & Pistachio and the top seller, ‘The Zebra’.
The Zebra contains layers of croissant dough and chocolate croissant dough,
filled with chocolate buttercream and topped with chocolate ganache. A choice
of size ranges are available, from the standard doughnut to mini doughnuts, to the
giant 8 or 10inch, a fun and original alternative to a traditional birthday
cake.

Coffee at Dum Dum Donutterie will be
provided by Nude Expresso, London’s leading micro-roastery based in Shoreditch,
with a selection of artisan syrups made by Dum Dums chefs at the Patisserie.
Plus a delicious Dum Dum Gelato with flavours including the Cro Dough Gelato
and Karak Chai Tea flavours.

Friday, 25 November 2016

Noo Noodles
has arrived in Brighton, holding the launch of its new base in Cranbourne
Street on Tuesday evening, serving up its delicious and healthy ‘build your
own’ noodle dishes.

The quirky
new takeaway restaurant offers customers the opportunity to create their own Asian fusion noodle dishes,
choosing from a wide range of fresh ingredients, which are cooked in front of
them over a fierce flame by Noo Noodles’ flamboyant wok chefs.

Kci Jones from
Noo Noodles, said, “It’s been scientifically proven that stir-fry is one of the
healthiest ways of preparing a meal, keeping the goodness in the ingredients
whilst bringing out the zest of their flavour - and we cook fast at
temperatures of over 200 degrees!

“We love
Brighton and are looking forward to welcoming hungry guests to pop in for a
quick noodle lunch, a take out for supper or a home or office delivery.”

The ‘build
your own’ Noo Noodles menu comes in two sizes at just £4.50 or £6.50 and
customers can choose a noodle or rice base, a choice of Asian sauces, a protein
ranging from beef to prawns and from cashew nuts to tofu, and then the choice
of one of many kinds of vegetable. The chef throws them into the wok and after
a flip and a toss, a choice of garnishes are sprinkled on top to finish the
dish, from fresh coriander to sesame seeds or chilli oil.

Dishes are
served in boxes which can be eaten in or taken out, in this new style of fast
food, which is wholesome, tasty and filling. Just one portion of Noo Noodles
contains almost all the daily recommended vitamins and minerals a person needs.

Noo Noodles also recognises loyal
customers through its #NooFriends rewards programme, which offers a cashback
system, making every wok rewarding! They also offer an unbeatable, corporate
deal for companies.

Noo Noodles Brighton branch is located at 14 Cranbourne
St, BN1 2RD. Open Monday
through Saturday from 11.00 am to 9.00 pm, Sunday from 2.00 pm to 8.00 pm. In
addition to eating in and takeout, Noo Noodles is available for delivery and
catering. See more at www.noonoodles.co.uk

Wednesday, 23 November 2016

Well here we are at the final Snowdogs trail post 😞 The pack will be on the streets until Sunday 27th November so this is your last chance to see them out & about. They will then disappear for a couple of weeks before coming together for the Festive Farewell at the Corn Exchange on the 4th & 5th December.

Our final walkabout takes us into Hove, if it's a nice day then I would recommend walking along the seafront. As you head west the seafront promenade becomes wider and calmer, you'll also see the stunning Regency architecture as well as the cute and colourful beach huts. Walking from Brighton Pier to Hove takes about 30-40 minutes so if you would prefer a bus there are plenty of options from the city centre, the main routes are 1, 6 and 49.

Today's trail will start on the seafront just passed Hove Lawns at the bottom of Medina Terrace. This is another of my favourite pooches. This one has a simple design as he has soft, velvety fur but what makes me smile is the cheeky sticking-out tongue 😝

3. Snowbrador - Artist: Ruby Cooper / Sponsor: Sussex Transport

As we say goodbye to Snowbrador we'll head inland so walk up Medina Terrace and then cross at the traffic lights to walk up Osborne Villas. Then cross the next set of traffic lights and walk up George Street. There are no Snowdogs here but you will find plenty of shops and cafés to keep you entertained. At the top of the street turn left into Blatchington Road for a bit more shopping before turning right to go up Sackville Road. Sackville Road will take you uphill and it is fairly long & steep so be warned! At the top of the road turn right and you'll see the entrance to Hove Park & our next Snowdog.

This is another decorative pup covered in flowers which seems fitting for his parkside location! Although, for me the name doesn't quite fit the design as this Snowdog is called Marty - maybe it's because I'm a geek but for me that name will always be linked to Back to the Future and Doc Brown exclaiming "Marty!" If I had realised this dog has this name ahead of time then I would have been expecting a Delorean themed dog. Just thought I should warn you that the name doesn't match the design in case there are any other geeks reading this post!

4. Marty - Artist: David Halliwell / Sponsor: Martlets Hospice

From Hove Park we are going to retrace our steps a bit and head back down Sackville Road, pass Blatchington Road and carry on to the bottom of Sackville Road. Turn right onto New Church Road and on your right you will find Hove Museum which is currently being guarded by Max. Max has a very decorative design featuring flowers and butterflies, I was also pleased to see that he has been provided with a bowl of water as being an adorable Snowdog is thirsty work! Before leaving the museum pop inside to see some of the snowpups which have been designed by local school children (there are also some in Hove Library).

2. Max - Artist: Sarah Arnett / Sponsor: Joan & Jerry Cooper

And now we will make our way to Hove Lagoon to find our final Snowdog which ironically is the first Snowdog on the map. To get to Hove Lagoon you can either walk down Westbourne Villas and then on to the seafront and then head west to the lagoon. If it's a breezy day you may prefer to carry on walking along New Church Road and then turn down Wish Road and on to Hove Lagoon.

Our final dog is Boomer and he resides inside the Big Beach Café so make sure you check that they are open before you go looking for him. Boomer has been sponsored by one of the cafés owners - Norman Cook aka FatBoy Slim - so it's no surprise to see that he is a music lover. Boomer has a big boombox on the side and it's not just for show as he does play music - perhaps he'll become a club DJ after he leaves the trail? After all that walking stay at the café for some food & drink and don't forget to scan the app to unlock a special offer.

Boomer was a highlight for me as not only was he my final dog on the trail but I met another fan who had also just completed the trail. My new friend was about 8 years old and was helpfully giving me some tips on how to scan the app. He then went on to tell me that Dave was the first dog he'd found but Rocco was his favourite. It was lovely to meet such an enthusiastic fan and to see first-hand how much people have embraced the trail.

To download the full trail map head to our website or pick one up from one of our Visitor Information Points. Don't forget the Snowdogs are art sculptures so please respect them and do not climb on or graffiti them. The Snowdogs are supporting the Martlets so if you would like to donate text SDOG16 £3 to 70070.

Friday, 18 November 2016

I can't believe we're already on to the penultimate Snowdogs post! There are just 10 days left to catch them so make sure you pop by and say hello.

So today we will take a trip to Brighton Marina, one of the largest marinas in Europe. If you are travelling by train then you can catch the number 7 bus from Brighton or Hove Stations and the bus takes you directly into the Marina. If it's a nice day then its about a 30 minute walk from Brighton Pier to the Marina, or if you prefer to drive there is a free car park as well.

If we use the West Quay pub as our starting point then walk along the upper deck past the Malmaison hotel and restaurants including Café Rouge. Turn left and head down the stairs to the lower deck where you'll find outlet shops and our fist Snowdog - Bow Wow. This pooch is a tribute to the legendary David Bowie and his Ziggy Stardust creation. Bow Wow features the classic lightening stripe across his face and back along with a picture of the man himself.

After leaving Bow Wow cross over the road and head towards the Katarina restaruant, past the restaurant you'll find the Octagon with more shops and restaurants as well as our next Snowdog sculpture. This one is a little different as it is actually a sand sculpture and the Snowdog has been joined by his old pal the Snowman.

Head back towards Bow Wow and up to the upper deck and this time turn left at the West Quay pub. This is the newest addition to the Brighton Marina boardwalk and features a great mix of restaurants as well as two gorgeous Snowdogs. The first one is the very colorful Brighton Rock in front of Bella Italia. The combination of colours did remind me of Smart Vibes outside of Brighton Station so I was not surprised to see that they were both created by Pinky.

Carry on walking along the boardwalk and you'll find our final Snowdog of the day - Bone China. As the name suggests this dog has been inspired by 18th century blue willow porcelain, however she has also embraced her waterfront position too.

Snowdog Bonus: If you missed seeing Brighton Belle at London Victoria Station then you will be pleased to here that she is now in Brighton! She is outside the British Airways i360 shop (beach level) and don't forget the whole pack will be together for the Festive Farewell event on the 4th & 5th December.

To download the full trail map head to our website or pick one up from one of our Visitor Information Points. Don't forget the Snowdogs are art sculptures so please respect them and do not climb on or graffiti them. The Snowdogs are supporting the Martlets so if you would like to donate text SDOG16 £3 to 70070.

Wednesday, 9 November 2016

Well hello everyone, it's time for another Snowdogs by the Sea trail guide. It's sad to think we are now over halfway through as the dogs are only here until 27th November. But they will be back for one big festive farewell on the weekend of the 4th & 5th December when the whole pawsome pack - including the Snowpups - will all be together at the Corn Exchange.

Of course it's great to see them while they are still in situ so today we will head off to Kemptown for our next trail. We're actually going to start our walk on the southern most corner of the Old Steine. The Old Steine is easy to get to as it just off the seafront by the Brighton Pier, if you are travelling by train it is about a 15 minute walk and there are Brighton & Hove buses that stop either on the seafront or at the bottom of North Street.

At the Old Steine you'll meet Southdowns Dog who has been beautifully designed by Kellie Miller & if you've done The Lanes trail then you'll have seen her gallery. Brighton & Hove is well-known for being a city by the sea but a lot of people don't realise that the city is actually sandwiched between the sea and the countryside. The stunning South Downs National Park is easily accessible from Brighton with regular buses going to Stanmer Park, Devil's Dyke and Ditchling Beacon. Clearly this beautiful countryside inspired Kellie :)

From the Old Steine head towards the Sea Life but make sure you stay on the upper seafront road (Marine Parade rather than Madeira Drive). This is now part of Kemptown where you will find a fantastic array of boutique hotels plus independent shops & cafés. Our next dog is on Marine Parade at the bottom of the New Steine square. This is Patch and as the name implies she has a patchwork quilt on her back as well as patchwork booties and ear warmers, which I think she'll be grateful off as it can get pretty breezy along the seafront!

From Patch we'll carry on walking along Marine Parade and as you'll see this is a great spot for admiring the sea view including the Brighton Marina. If you peer down onto Madeira Drive you'll see the Yellowave Beach Sports venue as well. On the left you'll walk past the striking Royal Crescent where the houses feature black mathematical tiles and former residents include Sir Laurence Olivier and Joan Plowright.

A little bit further along you'll find our next dog 'Seagulls of the South'. I may have made this confession before but I am actually not a fan of seagulls but I still like this dog as I know none of these birds are about to fly into me! In fact the brighton blue and yellow make it a very cheery sight. We're now going to head inland so use the pelican crossing and then turn into Paston Place. At the top of this road is Proud Cabaret Brighton which hosts regular cabaret nights, perfect for a group night out.

From Proud Cabaret turn left onto St George's Road and then the next Snowdog is in the driveway for St George's Church. Although be warned the church is not a traditional building with a spire so don't be confused. If you are standing with Proud behind you then the church is on your right and you'll see a driveway, walk up here and you'll find Smiley. This dog features a balloon design and some words of wisdom: "Smile a smile and pass it on" well The Snowdogs are definitely helping us to smile more :)

34. Smiley - Artist: Sophy Henn / Sponsor: Wild in Art

Say goodbye to Smiley and carry on walking along St George's Road until you reach College Road. Turn right up this road and then left onto Eastern Road, keep walking along this road until you reach Egremont Place. Turn right up Egremont Place and this will take you to the entrance to Queen's Park and our final dog of the day. Winter Lily has a Cath Kidston feel with a pale blue background and pretty flower pattern. After all that walking why not take some time to explore the park which is home to some of Brighton's finest Elm Trees.

33. Winter Lily - Artist: Sarah Jane Richards / Sponsor: Wild in Art

Please note the walk up to Queens Park is quite steep so if you would prefer to get a bus then routes 18 & 23 go by the park.

To download the full trail map head to our website or pick one up from one of our Visitor Information Points. Don't forget the Snowdogs are art sculptures so please respect them and do not climb on or graffiti them. The Snowdogs are supporting the Martlets so if you would like to donate text SDOG16 £3 to 70070.

Thursday, 3 November 2016

It's time for another Snowdogs trail and this week we'll be exploring The Lanes. These twisting alleyways were once the heart of the sleepy fishing village of Brighthelmstone but today they are full of boutiques, jewellers, bars and restaurants.

We're going to start our Lanes trail on Duke Street which is easy to get to via public transport or on foot. If you are travelling by train then head straight down Queens Road, on past the Clock Tower and down West Street and then you'll find Duke Street on your left. The majority of buses include stops at Churchill Square or North Street, once you are off the bus head to the Clock Tower to find West Street and then Dukes Street.

While Dukes Street isn't a narrow alleyway it is the start of The Lanes, and you'll see lots of cafés & shops as well as the Disco Dog. The Disco Dog is so-named as he is covered in mirror tiles and resembles a giant Disco Ball. He is always a cheery sight but even more so when the sun is shining and glinting off his back.

15. Disco Dog - Artist: Natalie Guy / Sponsor: Palace of Pooch

From Disco Dog turn right and then almost immediately left to go down Dukes Lane. This lane is full of designers and the fabulous JJ Flaunt. Once you've explored the shops of Dukes Lane turn right on to Ship Street and then follow the road round to the left (ie don't head down to the seafront). As you pass Food for Friends you'll spot the impressive Brighton Town Hall. Turn right at the town hall to see our next Snowdog - Koinu Yakuza. Koinu is Japanese for Puppy so it'll be no surprise to hear that this pup has been sponsored by Moshimo. I do have a soft spot for this Snowdog as I work in Brighton Town Hall and seeing Koino Yakuza smily face is always a great way to start the day!

Our next dog is not far away, head back the way you came from and cross over Prince Albert Street on to Brighton Place (in between Café Rouge & Bella Italia). Make time to pop in to Kellie Miller Arts shop as Kellie Miller designed one of the Snowdogs we'll see on a later trail. From Kellie's carry on walking towards Donatello and at the front entrance of the restaurant you'll find Crush Puppy. Fans who have already done the London Road trail may think she looks a little familiar and that's because this is the sister dog to Dudley as both were designed by the very talented Louise Dear.

Turn right down Market Street and you'll come out on East Street. This is a popular street in The Lanes as it features a square of restaurants where live music is often played and this is usually the site of the Christmas Lights switch-on - this year the lights switch-on will be on Wednesday 16th November. Carry on along East Street, pass the taxi rank and you'll find Horatio. This cute mustachioed fellow is ready for a day at the beach as he is dressed in his tradtional bathing suit. East Street was once the home of Martha Gunn who was a famous Brighton dipper. Dippers operated bathing machines which transported people down the beach and into the water whilst protecting their modesty. I'm sure Martha would have loved Horatio's stripey bathing suit!

From Horatio turn left to walk down the Avenue and then turn left again and then walk towards the pelican crossing to cross over to the Old Steine. Here you will find our last dog of the day Legal Beagle who features a map of all his favourite places across Brighton & Hove.

Friday, 28 October 2016

Today we welcome another guest blogger, here to tell us a bit about the Undercliff Walk is Warren Hill from Busy Business...

If you go east from Brighton’s Marina there is the undercliff walk. It goes along the coast about 2 km from the marina past Rottingdean and ends up at Saltdean beach. Near the end is Whitecliffs cafe which has been around for what seems like an age. I’ve been there quite a few times and it’s very popular with tourists and locals alike, but it has some intriguing secrets, both in its past and present.

There are many reasons it’s so popular, but one of the main ones is obviously it’s location. It’s situated near the end of the now quite famous undercliff walk in front of Saltdean park. This alone attracts many visitors, but being able to take a break and relax taking in the beautiful views of the chalky white cliffs and the sea view while having a meal or drinks is definitely a bonus.

This place used to be called Smugglers Haunt 2 back in the 1930’s when it was an Art Deco building before it was refurbished and reopened to how we know it today - a popular cafe by day, a romantic restaurant by night but also a venue for hire. You can see it in the rare pic below in the middle with the flag on top.

And when you look beyond the modern day facade and and think about its history it suddenly becomes more interesting. The place itself is built into the cliff making it quite unique but it’s past just adds to it. The whole area was once a haunt for smugglers (yes, it’s that obvious) bringing in cargo from Spain and the mediterranean, but the cafe itself was built around 1925 and was originally called “The Tea Pavillion” before it was named after it’s slightly disreputable past. Nowadays though, it’s a modern place that has many uses. It’s also a venue for hire outside of its usual opening hours and has been used by local businesses for networking events as well as parties and weddings etc, so if you are looking into the best venue hire Brighton has to offer then you should give them a call.

As for me, it’s one highlight of the lovely walk where you are just far enough away from the hustle and bustle of Brighton’s town centre to get that great feeling of escapism without having to go too far! Saltdean beach itself is ever popular for other runners who use the undercliff walk as part of their fitness regime, and you can see why as the views are beautiful and uninterrupted all year round which is why we all love this secluded part of Brighton I guess. I have seen many beautiful pictures and paintings by local artists showing just how lucky we are, and also how easy it is to forget about it wrapped up in all of what Brighton has to offer so I hope this acts as a little reminder.

Thursday, 27 October 2016

It's time for another trail to catch some more Snowdogs and while today's post does feature 5 sculptures they are all fairly close together so you can take things at a more leisurely pace...

While the whole trail is called Snowdogs by the Sea some have a closer view of the sea then others so for today's post we are going for a walk along the prom, prom, prom starting with Snowdog number 26.

We're starting our walk at the Fishing Museum on the beachfront, if you are coming by train then from Brighton Station walk straight down Queens Road & West Street then cross over and then down onto the lower promenade, heading east towards Brighton Pier. If you're travelling by bus then the majority of services include stops at Churchill Square Shopping Centre or North Street so once you get off the bus walk towards the seafront by walking down either West Street or Ship Street.

26. Bella - Artist: Chris Dawson / Sponsor: OneFamily

Outside the Fishing Museum you'll find Bella who is one of my favourite dogs on the trail. She fits in perfectly with her surroundings with sky and sea blue colourings - complete with a horizon line - and an adorable lighthouse tail. I particulalry like the cheeky Brighton and Brightoff headings for the day and nightime scenes. Before moving on pop in to the Fishing Museum to leaarn more abut Brighton's origins as the sleepy fishing village of Brighthelstone.

27. Process Pup - Artist: Josh Ford (The Osh) / Sponsor: Captiv8

For the next dog we'll continue walking east along the lower promenade with its mixture of shops & galleries until we reach the famous beachfront carousel. Here you'll find Snowdog 27 also known as Process Pup. This colourful pooch has a geometric patchwork design and is in one of the best spots for photographs as as she looks fabulous with either the Brighton Pier or the West Pier & British Airways i360 as backdrop.

Amble on to the upper promenade as we make our way towards the iconic Brighton Pier. Here you'll find the famous 'Kiss Wall' whose images only become clear when you are stood in front of it with the light shining through. From the 'Kiss Wall' walk on to the entrance to Brighton Pier where you'll find GRRRace & you'd better be on best behaviour as he is a police dog. Snowdog 28 has been sponsored by Peter James who works very closely with Sussex Police when researching his Roy Grace detective series. This dog will not suffer fools gladly and he evens has his handcuffs ready - you have been warned!

Of course no trip to Brighton's seafront is complete without a walk along the pier. You'll find shops and bars as well as classic arcade games & funfair rides. If the sea air is making you hungry then there's plenty of food options including the perennial favourites doughnuts, fish 'n' chips and Brighton Rock. Or you can just sit back and relax on a deckchair - after you've seen the Palace Pup of course! Palace Pup reflects the colour and fun of the Pier as well as the unavoidable seagulls.

After the Pier we're going to take in just one more pooch so head back to the upper promenade and use the crossing to get to the Sea Life Brighton. At the foot of the stairs you'll find 'Under the Sea' another of my personal favourites. You'll see that this cutie has explored the depths of the oceans, in fact she still has her goggles on. Her underwater design features Nemo, Dory, an octopus and seahorses. As we've finished today's trail make sure you go into the Sea Life to see the live versions of these underwater animals - and lots more! You'll also be visiting the country's oldest operating aquarium which features stunning Victorian architecture.